Compressor or booster???

[Dr. Lo]

Hi all,

I have a 1975 Princeton Reverb (with replacement Weber 10F150 speaker). I like the bluesy drive I get when I play high output humbucker-equipped guitars through it. I'd like to be able to "goose" it a little to get more of a "brown sound" or hard rock tone when needed. Essentially, I just want a bit more drive and sustain without causing the sound to get too harsh. I also want pinch harmonics to more easily pop out. I currently have a Fulltone OCD pedal, which I find gives me too much of a fuzzy metal tone. Would a booster or compressor pedal do the trick?

 

[Christobevii3]

Re: Compressor or booster???

I'd probably get the compressor since you said more sustain. You can always keep the compression low and boost the output to get a plain boost too then. The mxr dyna comp with the three knobs should work.

If you just want a clean boost the mxr micro amp works too.

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: Compressor or booster???

I'd go with the boost over the compressor. The compressor won't give you the extra gain like a boost will. Like Christorwhatever said, the MXR Micro Amp is probably a good choice.

- Keith

 

[Dr. Lo]

Re: Compressor or booster???

Anyone else?

 

[Reckless Abandon]

Re: Compressor or booster???

I liked the micro amp I used to own. Great for just boosting with coloring too much

 

[Karmadog777]

Re: Compressor or booster???

I know exactly what you need Rocktron Nitro Booster,, it is a boost pedal that has a slight compression effect too, I have one ,I dont use it anymore and could be swayed to part with it,its relitively inexpensive http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Rocktron-Nitro-BoosterEnhancer-Pedal?sku=154235

also a digitech Bad Monkey is a great OD pedal for blues stuff,dont color your tone, I have one of these too and I use it to give life to my modeling amps blues and crunch channels, they are cheap and I aint parting with mine
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Rocktron-Nitro-BoosterEnhancer-Pedal?sku=154235
of course SD makes a pickup booster,but Im just tellin you the ones I have experience with
Peace!

 

[Karmadog777]

Re: Compressor or booster???

actually after re-reading your post I would reccomend a Bad Monkey

 

[Virtual Kevorkian]

Re: Compressor or booster???

A compressor is going to reduce peaks... Unless you'd be using a lot of makeup gain, It wouldn't be adding 'gain' to your signal.

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: Compressor or booster???

I liked the micro amp I used to own. Great for just boosting with coloring too much

A BIG +1 for the Micro Amp !!!


I loved mine, but i am also VERY happy with my new'ish EHX LPB-1 !!!


JP

 

[baritone]

Re: Compressor or booster???

For similar applications, you could try a compressor, overdrive, clean boost, equalizer, volume pedal, or something similar. My favorites for this purpose are the EQ and the compressor. Many compressors have a "volume"/"level" knob, which can be used to dial in varying levels of gain boost and push a tube amp in addition to the control over dynamics. Equalizers are a lot of fun, since they let you customize your clean boost. If you can find the right frequency curve, you can make your toobs fuzz up without making it too loud.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Compressor or booster???

For pinch harmonics go for something like a Boss DS-1. For fattening up your tone go for something like the Homebrew CPR compressor.

 

[Dr. Lo]

Re: Compressor or booster???

Ok, let me reiterate what I'm trying to achieve. With my OCD's gain control about 3/4 up, I get phenomenal sustain, but I find the overall tone too heavy metal. If I put a compressor before my OCD, with the OCD's gain set just below the halfway mark, woulnd't I be able to get the sustain I want (including sustained pinch harmonics) with a more classic rock tone instead of a heavy metal one?

 

[lex666]

Re: Compressor or booster???

Ok, let me reiterate what I'm trying to achieve. With my OCD's gain control about 3/4 up, I get phenomenal sustain, but I find the overall tone too heavy metal. If I put a compressor before my OCD, with the OCD's gain set just below the halfway mark, woulnd't I be able to get the sustain I want (including sustained pinch harmonics) with a more classic rock tone instead of a heavy metal one?

Does your amp have channel volume? You can try turning that up...

 

[Dr. Lo]

Re: Compressor or booster???

Does your amp have channel volume? You can try turning that up...

Nope - One channel and one volume control.

 

[schecterplayer]

Re: Compressor or booster???

I would probably say a compressor. A good quality one on a mild setting will increase sustain and smooth out your tone without changing it too much. Most nice ones have a pretty decent amount of volume boost available as well.

 

[DesertRat]

Re: Compressor or booster???

A compressor will add sustain but kill dynamics, that's what they do.

So.... I gotta +1 for the BOOST.
I use a Smart People Factory EGO booster, it's got a cool EQ feature that you can switch in or out as well.

 

[schecterplayer]

Re: Compressor or booster???

Smart People Factory make good stuff, if you go for a booster then +1 to above. If you get a compression pedal, look for one that preserves your attack well, the TREX CompNova is great, and use really subtle settings: too much compression can be a bad thing.